Flow control means



"May 9, 1944. 1- p NEWMAN AL 1 2,348,490

now" common MEANS Filed April 17, 1943 Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE FLOW ooN'rRoL MEANS Application April 17, 1943, Serial No. 483,472

Claims.

This invention relates to a fiow control means for plumbing fixtures and the like. More particularly, it relates to a novel flow control spud suitable for assembly with the usual integral flushing rims employed in connection with such plumbing fixtures as urinals, closet bowls and the like.

It has been found that when these fixtures, such as urinals, for example, are installed in groups or batteries, and supplied from the conventional single common source of supply, the urinals nearest to the supply connection obtain an excessive supply of water while those at or near the end of the supply line or group do not obtain the required amount of water thus obviously resulting in objectionable inconsistent or variable flushing throughout the entire assembly of such fixtures.

However, through the employment of our invention it has now been made possible to adjust the flow of water easily and conveniently to each individual urinal or similar fixture, thus effecting the joint advantage of not only overcoming the objection above referred to but also providing that the flow can be adjusted to take care of manufacturing variations which may cause either undesirable spitting or flooding at the fixture if the flushing supplyis not accurately and properly controlled. This is especially true on high tank flushing valve installations in which the flow adjustment previously has not been practical.

Further, by the use of our novel device, means are now provided for adjusting the volume of flushing water supplied individually to each fixture without the necessity for positively disconnecting such fixture from thesupply line. Also it will be apparent that such adjustment can be made conveniently andquickly from the exterior of the fixture, which obviously provides an advantage from the standpoint pf accessible adjustability from time to time as conditions may vary in the supply line installation. I

It will also become apparent that our invention lends itself as particularly advantageous in providing for an adjustable spud relatively longitudinally movable and suitable for use with the integral flushing rim type of plumbing fixtures. Previously, the fiush-ingrim spuds employed did not permit such adjustability and hence satisfactory control of the flow of flushing water to the individual fixture was not available.- 1 7 Another important advantage in the instant structurewconstituting our invention lies in permitting the use of plain end or unthreaded tubing in the supply pipe which is connected to our novel control spud without the necessity for employing any special end connection for such tubing and thus economically employing for the purpose such tubing lengths as may be available.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will become readily apparent upon proceeding with the specification read in light of the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional assembly view of the novel spud flow control constituting our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line .3-3 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to Fig. 1 in which the type of control spud illustrated is of the type commonly referred, to as employing a bell type of connection. In the drawing, the numeral l refers generally ,to a fragmentary configuration of an integral flushing rim used on a urinal, closet bowl or the like plumbing fixture, the numeral 2 referring to awater passage with which our novel device is in communication by means of the connecting passage 3. As previously referred to, .the type of connection employed by the spud is the bell type in which the assembly with the fixture is made by means .of the conventional tapered walls 4 therewithin. In the latter type of connection a frusto-conical form of gasket 5 preferably made of rubber or like resilient material is positioned within the aperture in the manner indicated, bearing on its interior surface against the flared or bell-formed spigot end 6. The spud l is preferably provided with running threads 8 upon which the locknut 9 is threadedly journaled so as to compress the gasket 5 in the usual manner simultaneously between the upper surface portion of the ware and between the bell spigot end 6 as-indicated, to thereby provide a water tight joint between the spud and the fixture.

The threads 8 extend continuously upward, as indicated, to the top portion of the spud 'I thus permitting these threads to function also as a means for providing a threaded connection between the spud l and the packing nut H. The latter member is preferably of polygonal form in .cross section so as to permit the application of a wrench for compressing the packing 12 against a portion of the outer periphery of the adjusting sleeve I3. As indicated, the sleeve l3 upon suitable rotation is ,reciprocably movable within the spud I by virtue of its travel upon the threads 14 sleeve to efiect the desired control of the flushingwater therethrough. The said polygonal projection also serves as a means for holding the sleeve IS in adjusted position while thepacking nut I8 is being tightened. The upper portion of the sleeve, as shown, is'provided with the threads I! upon which a similarly threaded packing nut.

i8 is threadedly mounted for compressing the packing I9 around the usual supply tubing 2| connected to the usual fresh water line (not shown) Thus it will be apparent that the tubing passage 22 is in direct communication with the interior of the sleeve l3. To provide the necessary fiow outlet therefrom, the preferably oppositely disposed ports 23 are provided in the sleeve walls, the latter having substantial communication, depending upon the ultimateadjusted position of the sleeve, directly with the passage 3, and thence to the flushing rim 2 of the fixture.

'More specifically, it will become apparent that the sleeve l3, being adjustably movable longitudinally upon the threads l4, controls a fiow relationship between the sleeve l3 and the spud I so that the-outlet ports 23 may be either positioned within the passage 3 or within the rim 2 of the fixture as desired flow conditions may dictate. Or else, as indicated in the drawing, the

sleeve may be adjustably retained within the spud so as to reduce substantially the amount of water tobe permitted to'fiow to the fixture for flushing purposes. Thus itwill'be evident that a simple, accurate and effective means for controlling the flow volume into the fixture has been evolved and possessing convenient adjustability. I

Referring now tothe modified form shown in Fig. 2, this construction is similar to the construction described in connection with Fig. 1, except that the type of connection to the fixture differs; A spud l is employed having what is termed the Tform of connection for insertion within a suitably formed aperture 24 of the fixture I, communicating with the usual passage or flushing rim 2 The form of the connection is more clearly shown in the transverse sectional view of Fig. 3 in which a pair of lugs 25 of the sleeve are initially fitted Within the radial slots 26 and then by'simply rotating the sleeve slightly so as to clear the slots and engage the under surface'portion 21 :of the fixture to thereby apply the desired compression to the annular gasket 28.

In Fig. 2, the sleeve 13 occupies a relatively lower position so that the ports 23 of the sleeve are in direct communication with the chamber 29 of the spud 1. However, in both constructions itwill of course be apparent that the tubing 'ZIleadingfrom the supply (not shown) is capable of being easily maintained axially fixed whilethe sleeve is adjustably moved reciprocably to meet the flushing requirements of the installation. Such adjustability is easily accom- 'plished in both cases from the exterior .of the fixture and without actual disassembly of the line itself. 7 V

' It isjapparent that the foregoing constitutes a detailed description merely of preferred embodiments of our invention. Obviously, however, the details described may be varied without departing from the inventive concept disclosed. It is therefore to be clearly understood that the right is herein reserved to all such modifications falling fairly within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

. We claim: r

1. In a substantially tubular combined fiow control and coupling means interposed between a flushing supply tubing and a plumbing fixture or the like, the combination including a spud member mounted in axially fixed relation upon the fixture, a sleeve reciprocably movable within said spud, the said sleeve having variably restrictable outlet means adjacent its lower portion for communicating with an inner chamber of the fixture upon predetermined adjustment of the axial position of the said sleeve within the spud member, and the said sleeve having means at its upper end for adjustable telescopic sealing engagement with thewater'flushing supply tubing,

2. In a combined flow control and coupling means for regulation of flow to the flushing rim of a plumbing fixture or the like, the combination including a spud member, a sleeve telescopically movablev within said spud and frictionally held against movement relative to the spud, the said sleeve having a variably restricted outlet adjacent its lower portion for communicating with the flushing rim of the fixture upon predetermined axial movement of the said sleeve within the spud, and the said sleeve having means at its upper end for adjustable telescopic sealing engagement with a water supply tubing.

3. In a flow control means for communicating with a flushing rim of a plumbing fixture or the like, the combination including an internally threaded spud mounted in fixed relation upon the fixture, an externally threaded sleeve engaging the threads lof said spud for axial adjustment therewith, the said sleeve being cupshaped and having variably restricted outlets at its lower portion for communicating with the flushing rim of the fixture upon predeter mined axial movement of the said sleeve within the spud; 7 a

4. In a fiow control means forattachment to a flushing rim of a plumbing fixture or the like, the combination including a spud fixedlymount ed-upon the fixture; a rotatable sleeve-reciprocably movable within said spud, -the 's'aid-"s l eeve having a variably restricted outletadjacent its lower portion for communicating with the flush ing rim of the fixture upon predetermine'drotation of the said sleeve within th'e s'p'udf and; the said sleeve having means atIitsupper 'ehQ f r adjustable telescopic sealing engagement with awater supply tubing f 5. In a. flow control man'sforcom'municating with a flushing rim are plumbing fixtureior the like, the combination including a spud member fixedly mounted upon'the fixture, a cup sh'aped sleeve telescopically movable within sai'd' spud member,'means adjustably mounted on thespud member providing a packing chamber for the sleeve, the said sleeve having a variably restricted outlet at its lower side wall portion for substan--' tially unrestricted communicating with the flushing rim of'the fixture upon predetermined axial movement of'the said sleeve within the spud member in one direction, and upon predetermined axial inovement of the said sleeve in the opposite direction having the vflow through the sleeve outlet restricted by the inner annular wall of the said spud member, and the said sleeve being connected at its upper end to a water supply tubing.

6. In a telescopically arranged flow control "means for cooperation with the flushing supply to a plumbing fixture or the like, the combination including a spud mounted upon the fixture, a sleeve telescopically movable within thesaid spud, the said sleeve having a variably restricted side outlet at its lower portion for communicating with the inner portion of the spud and the flushing rim of the fixture upon predetermined telescopic movement of the said sleeve within the said spud, whereby the volume of the flushing supply to the fixture may be controlled, and the said sleeve having means at its upper end for adjustable telescopic engagement with a supply tubing.

7. In a flow control means for communicating with a flushing rim of a plumbing fixture or the like, the combination including a threaded spud mounted in fixed relation upon the fixture, a threaded sleeve reciprocably movable within said spud, the said sleeve having a plurality of variably restricted ports in its lower side wall portion for communication with the interior of the spud and the fixture upon predetermined axial movement of the said sleeve within the spud, and the said sleeve having means at its upper end for adjustable telescopic sealing engagement with a supply tubing.

8. In a fiow control means for communicating with a flushing rim of a plumbing fixture or the like, the combination including a spud mounted upon the fixture, a sleeve telescopically movable within said spud and held against longitudinal movement therewithin, the said sleeve having ports in its lower side wall portion, the said latter portion being snugly receivable within a lower portion of the spud, whereby the flow of fluid therepast is substantially restricted upon predetermined longitudinal movement of the sleeve within the spud, and said sleeve having a packing chamber at its upper end for adjustable telescopic engagement with a water supply tubing.

9. In a flow control means for communicating with a flushing rim of a plumbing fixture or the like, the combination including an internally threaded spud mounted upon the fixture, an externally threaded sleeve reciprocably movable within said spud, means defining a packing chamber on said spud for frictional and sealing engagement with the sleeve, the said sleeve having a plurality of ports in its lower side wall portion providing substantially unrestricted communication upon movement of the sleeve in one direction with the flushing rim of the fixture upon predetermined axial movement of the said sleeve within the spud, while upon movement of the said sleeve in the opposite direction the flow of fluid through the said ports is restricted by the inner annular wall of the spud, and the said sleeve having means at its upper end for adjustable telescopic sealing engagement with a supply tubing.

10. In a flow control means for communicating with an inlet supply and having an outlet communicating with an inner chamber of a plumbing fixture or the like, the flow control means including an internally threaded spud mounted in fixed relation upon the fixture, an externally threaded sleeve reciprocably movable relative to the said spud and the inlet supply, means comprising packing for holding the said sleeve against longitudinal movemen therewithin, the said sleeve having a variably restricted side outlet at its lower portion for communicating with the inner chamber of the fixture and the spud upon predetermined axial movement of the said sleeve within the spud, and the said sleeve having packing means at its upper end for adjustable telescopic sealing engagement with a water supply tubing.

THOMAS P. NEWMAN. HAROLD W. ASHBY. 

